Cryptotermes pugnus Scheffrahn & Vasconcellos, 2023
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1182.108243 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B49C6966-A3DE-415E-9D6A-B9EACEECBA99 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B7EB068D-34FD-4B36-A5B9-C37A230F05FD |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:B7EB068D-34FD-4B36-A5B9-C37A230F05FD |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Cryptotermes pugnus Scheffrahn & Vasconcellos |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Cryptotermes pugnus Scheffrahn & Vasconcellos sp. nov.
Comparison.
The imago of C. pugnus groups with C. brevis , C. chacoensis Roisin, 2003, C. kirbyi Moszkowski, 1955, and C. darwini (Light, 1935) in having the arolium absent between the tarsal claws (Fig. 1C View Figure 1 ). The forewing venation of the C. pugnus imago is atypical for most of the genus in having several branches splitting from the media and intersecting the radial sector (Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ). This character is only known from C. brevis , C. darwini (see Light 1935), and C. kirbyi (see Bacchus 1987). The latter two species may be found in future studies to by synonyms of C. brevis . Roisin (2003) did not describe the venation of C. chacoensis .
Among mainland South American Cryptotermes soldiers, C. pugnus is unique in having, in dorsal view, a cuboidal head capsule and a very rugose, rounded and projecting postclypeus (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). The postclypeus of C. brevis and C. chacoensis soldiers are closest to C. pugnus , but the head capsules of the former two are constricted (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Along with C. pugnus , only C. aequacornis , C. cylindroceps , and C. rhicnocephalus have both frontal and genal horns projecting the same length anteriorly (Fig. 3H, L, M View Figure 3 ).
Description.
Imago (Fig. 1A-D View Figure 1 ). Head capsule and pronotum pale yellow brown. Compound eye obtusely triangular; ocellus light yellow, about half diameter of eye, roundly ellipsoid, and touching eye margin. Vertex with a few short setae. Pronotum wider than head capsule; anterior margin shallowly concave. Pronotum lateral margins with about one dozen setae each. Antennae with 15 articles, basal article relative lengths 2 = 3> 4 = 5. Forewing with subcosta joining costal margin at about 1/8 of wing length from suture. Wing membrane pale; veins a shade darker. Costa, subcostal, radius, and radial sector sclerotized; unsclerotized media with several branches intersecting radial sector; media terminating at radial sector about 3/4 wing length, then appearing as a separate branch near tip of wing. Arolium absent. Measurements (mm, mean, n = 3). Head maximum width with eyes 0.96; head maximum width without eyes 0.88; pronotum maximum width 0.94; eye maximum diameter 0.23; ocellus maximum diameter 0.12; total body length 5.3; right forewing length from scale 6.90; body length with wings 8.74.
Soldier (Fig. 2A-E View Figure 2 ). Head capsule, in dorsal view, strongly rugose; dark castaneous brown from postclypeus grading to orange-brown at occiput. Head capsule widest at posterior third, narrowest at frontal flange. Frontal flange (ridge) V-shaped with deep median cleft. Posterior margin of head capsule truncate, posterolateral corners forming right angles, lateral margins nearly parallel combining to form cuboidal appearance. In lateral view, frontal flange elevated, vertex unevenly concave; frontal horns visible as blunt knobs. Genal horns evenly rounded, slightly posterior to frontal horns (Fig. 2E View Figure 2 ). Pronotum angled sharply from vertex, narrower than head; anterior margin dark and ruffle; incised in middle with rounded anterior lobes. Eye spots large, narrowly elliptical. In oblique view (Fig. 2C View Figure 2 ) frons concave. Postclypeus evenly convex, strongly rugose, projecting well beyond frontal flange (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ). Antennae with 8 or 9 articles, third fused or divided; or with 10 or 11 articles, third fused or divided. Mandibles wide and short for the genus; rugose, rounded basal hump at half-length when seen from below, outer margin of blade angles about 50°. Measurements (mm, mean, n = 2). Head length to tip of mandibles 1.57; head length to tip genal horns 1.20, frontal flange width 1.11; frontal horns, outside span 0.90; genal horns, outer span 0.95; head width, maximum 1.20; head width, minimum (behind frontal flange) 1.10; head height, excluding postmentum 0.88; pronotum, maximum length 0.95; pronotum, maximum width 1.12; left mandible length, tip to ventral condyle 0.53.
Type materials.
Holotype: Brazil • Soldier; Paraíba, São José dos Cordeiros; -7.39056, -36.80833; 526 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 2000; A. Vasconcellos leg.; two soldiers (one labelled holotype, Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), three imagos, and three pseudergates; University of Florida Termite Collection (UFTC) no. SA470, subsample from Federal University of Paraíba Termite Collection (FUPTC) no. 2052. Paratypes: Brazil • Bahia, Curaçá; -9.123, -39.691; 366 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2011; A. Vasconcellos leg.; one soldier and pseudergates; FUPTC no. 4345.
Etymology.
Named after the pug dog. The oblique view of the soldier (Fig. 2C View Figure 2 ) resembles this short-nosed breed.
Key to South American Cryptotermes soldiers
| 1 | In dorsal (or ventral) view, genal horns form anterolateral knobs of head capsule; vertex smooth (introduced species) (Fig. 3A, B View Figure 3 ) | 2 |
| - | In dorsal view, genal horns eclipsed by frontal horn or frontal flange (e.g. Fig. 3H View Figure 3 ) | 3 |
| 2 | Mandibles project more than one third length of head capsule (Fig. 3A View Figure 3 ) | C. dudleyi |
| - | Mandibles project about one fourth length of head capsule (Fig. 3B View Figure 3 ) | C. havilandi |
| 3 | Mandibles barely project beyond frons or frontal horns (Fig. 3C, D View Figure 3 ) | 4 |
| - | Mandibles clearly project beyond frons or frontal horns (e.g. Fig. 3H View Figure 3 ) | 5 |
| 4 | Frontal horns not visible (Fig. 3C View Figure 3 ) | C. colombianus |
| - | Frontal horns visible (Fig. 3D View Figure 3 ) | C. contognathus |
| 5 | Vertex excavated; with deeply folding rugosity (e.g. Fig. 3H View Figure 3 ) | 6 |
| - | Vertex not excavated; rugosity more shallow (e.g. Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ) | 10 |
| 6 | Head constricted behind frontal flange (Fig. 3E, F View Figure 3 ) | 7 |
| - | Head not constricted behind frontal flange (Fig. 3G-I View Figure 3 ) | 8 |
| 7 | Genal horns visible from above, mandibles with lateral humps; Gran Chaco region (Fig. 3E View Figure 3 ) | C. chacoensis * |
| - | Genal horns not visible from above, mandibles without lateral humps; widespread (Fig. 3F View Figure 3 ) | C. brevis * |
| 8 | Frontal horns barely extend beyond anterolateral margin of frontal flange (Fig. 3G View Figure 3 ) | C. cubicoceps |
| - | Frontal horns extend well beyond anterolateral margin of frontal flange (Fig. 3H, I View Figure 3 ) | 9 |
| 9 | Anterior margin of postclypeus linear; outer span of mandibles <1/2 width of head (Fig. 3H View Figure 3 ) | C. aequacornis |
| - | Anterior margin of postclypeus rounded; outer span of mandibles>1/2 width of head (Fig. 3I View Figure 3 ) | C. pugnus sp. nov. * |
| 10 | In lateral view, frontal flange emerges above vertex as a rounded mound (Fig. 3J, K View Figure 3 ) | 11 |
| - | In lateral view, frontal flange forms angular intersection with vertex (Fig. 3L-N View Figure 3 ) | 12 |
| 11 | Frontal flange semicircular; humid Chaco (Fig. 3J View Figure 3 ) | C. camelus |
| - | Frontal flag quadrant (Fig. 3K View Figure 3 ) | C. verruculosus |
| 12 | Lateral margin of vertex linear in lateral view (Fig. 3L View Figure 3 ) | C. cylindroceps |
| - | Lateral margin of vertex concave (Fig. 3M-O View Figure 3 ) | 13 |
| 13 | Flange without elevated rim (Fig. 3M View Figure 3 ) | C. rhicnocephalus |
| - | Flange with elevated rim (Fig. 3N, O View Figure 3 ) | 14 |
| 14 | Frontal horn not projecting beyond frontal flange (Fig. 3N View Figure 3 ) | C. fatulus |
| - | Frontal horn projects beyond frontal flange (Fig. 3O View Figure 3 ) | C. mangoldi |
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